This poor vegetable. Broccoli is such a wonderful vegetable but I think it suffers from the lack of understanding how to cook it. It is super easy to grow, very easy to take care of, and such a wonderful vegetable full of wonderful things.

Broccoli is best started in the early spring, just after the last frost. It doesn't like warm weather, so it is best to plan to pick it before July for most places. If you have a cool fall but no frost, you can usually sneak in two crops. You can grow from seeds but this is one of the few vegetables that I prefer getting starters for. If you live in unpredictable weather areas, then you should lean toward starters to get the maximum growth and harvest. They are not picky about soil but they do like lots of water. They also like a lot of sun; if they get too much shade, they can develop some leaf mold/fungus (looks like white flour on their leaves).

For a brief history about cruciferous vegetables, see here. Broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, kale, etc. are actually descended/bred from the same plant. They are very high in vitamin C and have a wide variety of flavors and textures.

Pests and Such: Soapy water is my friend!The big thing for broccoli and all of the cabbage related family is cabbage worms. They are actually larvae of a moth, so caterpillars are a better word for them. If you see white moths around the broccoli, be on the look out for the caterpillars as they hatch. I just pick them off and kill them but you can put soapy water on the leaves to kill them. Aphids can also be an issue along with cutworms. Again, soapy water is your friend. Spray on dear friends, spray on.

Favorite Uses:1. Blasted Broccoli: see here for the recipe!2. Broccoli Coleslaw: this one is great but it can be hard to shred the broccoli without a food processor. However, just a touch of store bought coleslaw dressing, raisins, and cashews and you are in business!3. Stir-Fry: for a quick mid-week meal, I mix fresh broccoli with chicken and any other vegetables I have laying around and cook it in a couple of tablespoons of oil, then toss with my favorite Asian style sauce or marinade. 4. Dip Transport System: Let's be honest, if you are eating a yummy dip the vegetables are just a transport system. However, broccoli adds a lovely crunch to almost any dip hot or cold.